Special Performance at the Gala

After the Awards ...

DOORS OPEN FREE TO ALL registered attendees after dinner and award presentations with a very special performance, dancing and a cash bar as the celebration continues.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

All attendees are invited to join the celebration, free of charge, after dinner and awards presentations for an inspiring performance by MOMENTA, the resident dance company of the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park. Their physically integrated dance performance shows how people with and without disabilities can dance and move together in ways that are aesthetic and communicate what it is to be a human being.

HOW TO ATTEND

SPACE IS LIMITED. Reserve your tickets early for this popular event.

Can't make it for dinner?Don't miss the celebration! Doors open FREE to all registered attendees after dinner and the awards presentations.

Or call +1.703.435.5335 for personal assistance

PARTICIPATING DANCERS

Nura Aly is a 28 year old student at Northeastern Illinois University studying to receive her certification to teach music. She has played violin for 20 years. Nura advocates for the rights of people with disabilities on several fronts. She founded a Disability Awareness Committee at her middle school and high school and has performed for many disability organization functions. She has spoken to several youth groups about her experiences being a musician with a disability and taught at a music camp for people with disabilities in Pennsylvania. Her hope is to create a similar program in the Chicago area where she can combine her passion for music and disability advocacy.

Anita Fillmore Kenney and Ginger Lane (seated)

Glauco Araujo, dancer, choreographer and performer, began his dance studies in 2005 in Grupo Corpo em Movimento, created by ANDEF (Niteroi Association of Physically Disabled). As part of this company Glauco took part in various events and lectures on the importance of including people with disabilities in dance, and in 2012 he represented Brazil at the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games in London. In 2013, Glauco studied dance in New York City received numerous accolades for his performance in Perfopoético Soledad Bailada Y Casi Compartida in Spain. Currently Glauco works with Embaixadores Da Alegria, the first and only samba school in the world for people of all abilities.

nili R. Broyer is an international PhD student in the Disability Studies program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and a recipient of the Ethel Louise Armstrong (ELA) Scholarship Award. nili is a scholar artist and her artwork includes video art, performance art, dance, photography and poetry. She is a member in UIC’s Program on Disability Art, Culture, and Humanities (PDACH), and in Bodies of Work: A Network of Disability Art and Culture.

Lisa Green has been part of the Academy of Movement and Music for many years. She began her training at age seven and began teaching at 16. Lisa was a member of MOMENTA at its inception and performed throughout high school and college. After college she completed her Master’s Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and worked at a psychiatric hospital. She is honored to be a part of this celebration!

Stephanie Kanter is thrilled to be dancing with MOMENTA and with a group of incredibly talented people. When she's not dancing and working Stephanie loves to travel, exploring new experiences with her daughter, who is also her biggest inspiration to try dance.

Ginger Lane began her dance training in Chicago and was awarded a scholarship at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She received her B.S. in Theatre and Communication from Northwestern University and began performing and teaching throughout the Chicago area. Using a wheelchair since 1984, Ginger collaborated and performed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and was a member of Dance<Detour, a company of dancers with and without disabilities for ten years. She has been involved with MOMENTA since 2003, performing, choreographing, and conducting workshops at the Academy. In 2000 she was named one of “100 Women Making a Difference” in Today’s Chicago Woman magazine.

Kris Lenzo made the transition to dance after more than two decades as a wheelchair athlete and national champion as a member of the United States National Teams in Basketball and Track. Since 2003 Lenzo has danced with MOMENTA performing arts. Lenzo has studied dance in Washington and California, and is a dance instructor for MOMENTA's EveryBody Can Dance! workshops for dancers with and without disabilities.

Linda Mastandrea is a lawyer, writer, disability rights activist, and Paralympic gold and silver medalist from the 1996 Paralympic Games in wheelchair track. Her newest undertaking in dance continues her passion for tackling new challenges and fearless pursuit of opportunities that come her way. Linda is the Chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee’s Legal and Ethics Committee, and has been active in disability sport for many years. She is enjoying exploring movement in a more artistic vein.

Sarah Najera joined MOMENTA in 1999 and has worked as a dancer, choreographer, costume designer and Matinee Director. Sarah also co-founded MOMENTA Repertory Ensemble (MRE) and has served as Artistic Director for many MRE projects. Outside of MOMENTA Sarah has a strong background in Latin and Spanish dance.

ABOUT MOMENTA

For over 30 years MOMENTA has fulfilled its mission to bring high quality dance concerts to diverse audiences in Chicago. Founded by artistic director, Stephanie Clemens, it is the resident performing arts company of The Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park. MOMENTA has repertory that includes historical works by the legends of American Modern Dance and contemporary choreography by many Chicago area choreographers. Since 2003 MOMENTA has included physically integrated works for dancers with disabilities, and participated in Bodies of Work, the first Chicago Festival for Disability Arts and Culture, and Access Living’s dance concerts. MOMENTA hosts physically integrated workshops for dancers with and without disabilities on several Sunday afternoons throughout the year. Visit MOMENTA at www.momentadances.org

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